Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be within the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Languages, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Educational Sciences or the Faculty of Social Sciences and include a documented written independent academic work of at least 15 credits.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Aims

The program aims to help all students develop as potential public professional intellectuals, persons who have reflected deeply about their own engagement and who are thereby able to champion their ideas in writing and speaking. There is power in understanding the histories in which one partakes, the theories and methods of social engagement, and the arts of persuasion. Such knowledge may give one the power to change other people’s lives and perhaps one’s own.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the program, the student is expected to be able to:

• analyze and critically discuss different theories and methods of significance to religious and ethically based peace and justice movements;
• orally and in writing communicate issues of relevance to the course to an academic as well as a non-academic audience;
• show examples of how different religious groups express their commitment to peace and justice;
• problematize the role of religion in different types of conflict.
• discuss theoretical frameworks and choices of method in different research projects;
• apply knowledge of scientific theories in concrete situations;
• plan and discuss theoretical frameworks and choice of method in a personal research project with a very high degree of independence define, design and carry out a research task related to religious and ethically based peace and justice movements;
• produce a longer, well-argued and well written thesis in English

Instruction

The programme is given via distance on a full-time basis, but includes a compulsory on-campus week in Uppsala once a year. The teaching consists mostly of online seminars on course portals. You will work with case studies, present and discuss assignments with your fellow students. Courses are studied and examined one at a time. During the on-campus week, there will be lectures, seminars and group assignments. Lectures are, if possible, on some of the individual courses via the learning platform. A short field study is included in the programme. The Master’s thesis can also be based upon field study in a country of your choosing.

The teaching is done in English. You are expected to read, write and speak English at an international academic level.

Degree

The full programme runs for two academic years. It leads to a Master of Divinity in the History of Religions and social science (120 credits). It is also possible to graduate after one year to obtain a Master of Arts in Theology (60 credits).

Other directives

This is a distance-learning programme, why the Swedish Migration Agency will not grant you with a Swedish residence permit to attend this programme.